Reversible last and foot-rest



Oct. 16, 1934. w E. STROBEL 1,977,157

REVERSIBLE LAST AND FOOT REST Filed March 18 1933 INVENTOR Willzkzmlbirafiel ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 16, 1934 UNITED STATE 'P-ATEii-T OFFI William .E. 'Strobel, Maplewood, N. J. Application March '18, 1933, Serial No. 661,459

' 2 Claims.

This invention has for its principal object to' provide, in an integral structure, a reversible last and foot-rest means for the purposes described which is especially adapted for home use, and which provides small and large last and foot-rest vv bodies capable of selective use to accommodate foot-wear of various sizes; the arrangement of the last and foot-rest bodies being such that the same are connected respectively with opposite ends of a supporting column or standard memher, so that when one is upwardly presented for use the other serves as a supporting base.

The invention has for a further object to provide a reversible last and foot-rest means which is comparatively inexpensive to produce in the 0 form of a one-piece casting, and in which the last and foot-rest members are so related to the interconnecting column or standard that when one is positioned to serve as a supporting base the other will be disposed at an angular declination from toe to heel so as to be presented in the most convenient position for use either as a last for insertion within a shoe, to support the same for the making of repairs thereto, or as a footrest to support the foot and shoe of the user during shoe shining operations. 7

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:--

Fig. l is a side elevation of the novel reversible last and foot-rest as disposed to present the 40 larger of the last or foot-rest bodies in position for use; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, looking from left to right in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-section, taken from line 3-3 in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device in reversed position as disposed to present the smaller of the last or foot-rest bodies in position for use.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above-described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to said drawing, the reference character 5 indicates a relatively large last and footrest body having a peripheral configuration approximating that of the sole and heel of a foot, the same having an interior surface comprising 55 an outwardly arched sole portion 6 and outwardly arched heel portion 7 with an intermediate inwardly arched instep portion 8. The reference character 9 indicates a relatively small last and foot-rest body also having a peripheral configuration approximating that of the sole and heel of a foot, and also having an exterior surface comprising an outwardly arched sole portion 10 and outwardly arch heel portion 11 with an intermediate inwardly arched instep portion 12.

Integrally formed with and extending between the interior faces of said large and small last or foot-rest bodies 5 and 9, approximately in line with the instep portions of the latter, is a connecting standard member or column 13, preferably of a flattened contour with its edges respectively forwardly and rearwardly presented so that its side faces lie substantially parallel to the longitudinal central axes of said last or foot-rest bodies. At its ends said standard member or column 13 is widened out to' provide forwardly extending longitudinal reenforcing ribs 14 connected with the interior faces of said respective last and foot-rest bodies along the longitudinal central axes thereof to underlie the sole portions; and, in like manner, to provide rearwardly extending longitudinal reenforcing ribs 15 connected with the interior faces of said respective last and foot-rest bodies along the longitudinal central axes thereof to underlie the heel portions.

'Integrally connected with each end of said standard member or column 13 are oppositely and laterally extending diverging transverse reenforcing ribs 16 which integrally join with the undersides.

of the respective last and foot-rest bodies.

The respective last and foot-rest bodies 5 and 9 are somewhat inclined from a right angle to the vertical axes of the standard member or column 13 so as to align in converging relative planes sloping from toes to heels thereof. By this latter arrangement, when one last or foot-rest body is utilized as a supporting base footed upon a horizontal plane surface, the opposite last or footrest body is'upwardly presented, that is with its exterior surface upward, in a somewhat inclined plane declining from its toe toward its heel, in which position it is most conveniently presented either to enter the interior of and receive a piece of foot-wear to support the same subject to repair operations, or to serve as a foot-rest to support the foot and shoe of the user during shoe shining operations, as the case may be.

By using the smaller body 9 as a base the larger body 5 is firmly supported and conveniently upwardly presented for use either as a last or as a foot-rest (as shown in Fig. 1) and by reversing the device end for end so as to utilize the larger body 5 as a base, the smaller body 9 is thereupon firmly supported and conveniently upwardly presented for use either as a last or as a foot-rest (as shown in Fig. 4).

By selective use of the larger or smaller last and foot-rest body, a variety of foot-wear ranging from large to small sizes may be conveniently applied to and supported by the device, and consequently a very convenient article is provided for the contemplated services, and one which is especially adapted for use in the home.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:-

1. A reversible last and foot-rest device formed in an integral structure, comprising a larger last and foot-rest body and a smaller last and foot rest body having their interior faces opposed,said bodies lying in planes converging Irom toes to heels thereof, whereby, with one of said bodies mounted on a horizontal surface, the other body is held in an inclined position with its toe portion uppermost as is desired, and a column integrally interconnecting said bodies, said column having reenforcing rib portions extending therefrom into connection with said bodies.

2. A reversible last and foot-rest device formed in an integral structure, comprising a larger last and foot-rest body and a smaller last and footrest body having their interior faces opposed, said bodies lying in planes converging from toes to heels thereof, whereby, with one of said bodies mounted on a horizontal surface, the other body is held in an inclined position with its toe portion uppermost as is desired, and a column interconnecting and integrally formed with said bodies, said column having longitudinal rib portions extending forwardly and rearwardly from its end portions into connection with said bodies, and said column having additional transverse rib portions extending from its side faces at its end portions into connection with said bodies.

WILLIAM E. STROBEL. 

